Lunatic

200 Words: Which lunatic told this servant that his master was harsh?

The year finishes with a flurry of parables:

A man entrusts his property to his servants. To one he gave five talents, to another two talents, to another one, each according to his ability (Matthew 25).

A talent is the largest known unit of money. It measures 6,000 denarii and a denarius was a working man’s wage.

Today’s equivalent? The master entrusts $10million, $4million and $1million to his servants.

Two servants are wise. They get to work and trade and make more money for the master. They receive the beautiful adulation:

Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful in a few things. You will be put in charge of many things. Enter in the joy of your master.

Not so the man who receives $1million. He buries the talent in the earth:

Master, I knew that you were a harsh man … so I was afraid.

Which lunatic told this servant that his master was harsh?

Naturally enough, fear follows:

Freezing him into immobility’ (Montague, Companion God, 308).

What a monumental disaster.

Two questions:

Is the rise of unbelief attributable to an erroneous notion of God?

What fears are holding us back from apostolic action?

Amen.